Behind The Curtain

Concise Reviews for Movie Addicts Who Don't Have Time to Waste

Recent Reviews

Still of Don Johnson and Aaron Pierre in ‘Rebel Ridge’ (2024)

Rebel Ridge (2024)

Jeremy Saulnier proves you can deliver a white-knuckle experience without the overworked gunplay and gore

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Still of Lee Jae-in and Jo Woo-jin in ‘Hard Hit’ (2021)

Hard Hit (2021)

Jo Woo-jin is terrific as the desperate father whose one wrong move could be the end of him and his kids

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Still of Helen Mirren, Sasha Luss, and Luke Evans in ‘Anna’ (2019)

Anna (2019)

Sasha Luss executes with intensity and grace in a fast-paced tale that’s more absorbing than expected

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Still of Lee Byung-hun and Ha Jung-woo in ‘Ashfall’ (2019)

Ashfall (2019)

This disaster extravaganza has the right dose of everything: special effects, high stakes, heroics, betrayal, comedy

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Still of Mary-Louise Parker, Bruce Willis, and John Malkovich in ‘RED 2’ (2013)

RED 2 (2013)

The RED team (well, most) are back in action, but Mary-Louise Parker once again delivers the chuckles

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Still of John Malkovich, Bruce Willis, and Mary-Louise Parker in ‘RED’ (2010)

RED (2010)

Mary-Louise Parker outshines a dozen other stars in this most watchable espionage-turned-caper tale

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Still of Yum Jung-ah and Hwang Jung-min in ‘Mission: Cross’ (2024)

Mission: Cross (2024)

Yum Jung-ah is terrific as the wise-cracking police woman investigating fraudsters … and maybe her husband

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Still of Daisy Ridley in ‘Young Woman and the Sea’ (2024)

Young Woman and the Sea (2024)

Daisy Ridley is inspiring and buoyant in this biopic of the first woman to swim the English Channel

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Still of Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell in ‘Twisters’ (2024)

Twisters (2024)

Twisters revolves around personalities, making it more substantial, but less exciting, than Twister

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Still of Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton in ‘Twister’ (1996)

Twister (1996)

From its soundtrack to its over-the-top tornado encounters, Twister promises you a good time … and delivers

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Still of John Ashton, Eddie Murphy, and Judge Reinhold in ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ (2023)

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)

Eddie Murphy does his ad-libbing best to animate ‘Axel F,’ but only the soundtrack reminds us of past magic

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Still of Morena Baccarin and Pierce Brosnan in ‘Fast Charlie’ (2023)

Fast Charlie (2023)

Pierce Brosnan in a tense revenge tale with Elmore Leonard-esque dialog, plus a touching nod to James Caan

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Recent Quick Takes

Act of Valor (2012)

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The well staged action sequences can't make us overlook the stilted dialog and cardboard characterizations

Sand Storm (2016)

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It's not a war story – only it is, of sorts – about modern Arab women's struggle against millennia-old traditions

The Skeleton Twins (2014)

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Estranged, dysfunctional twins Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig somehow manage to make suicide mirthful

Alien Outpost (2014)

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Another tired "advanced beings from outer space invade with WWII-level tactics." OK battle scenes, zero plot

Black or White (2014)

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A hard-edged, thought-provoking drama of a widowed father fighting for custody of his biracial daughter

Young Ones (2014)

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In a water-parched future, a refreshingly original and complex story of greed, betrayal, and family loyalty

The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

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A do-gooder lawyer who works from the back of his car begins to realize his case isn't exactly open-and-shut

Conan the Barbarian (2011)

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For a guy facing the fight of his life, Conan sure does spend a lot of time sword-twirling.

Albert Nobbs (2011)

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A refreshingly unique tale, splendidly acted, that still leaves you unaffected and a bit adrift at the end